Device for free selection of zig-zag pattern discs in sewing machines



July 25, i967 KEazo YANAGlBAYAsHl 3,332,380

DEVICE FOR FREE SELECTION OF ZG-ZAG PATTERN DISCS 1N SEWING MACHNES 4Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l5, 1964 July 25, 1967 Kenzo YANAGIBAYASHI3,332,380

DEVICE FOR FREE SELECTION OF' ZIG-ZAG PATTERN DISCS IN SEWING MACHINESFiled June l5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet i FIG.

July 25, W67 KElzo YANAGIBAYASHI 3,332,380

DEVICE FOR FREE SELECTIN OF ZIG-ZAG PATTERN DISCS 1N SEWING MACHINESFiled June l5, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 25, 1967 Kenzo YANAGIBAYASHI3,332,380

DEVICE FOR FREE SELECTION OF' ZIG-ZAG PATTERN MACHINES DISCS 1N SEWING 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June l5, 1964 3,332,380 DEVCE FOR FREE SELECTION FZIG-ZAG PATTERN DlSCS IN SEWlNG MACHINES Kcizo Yanagibayashi,Hamamatsu-shi, Japan, assigner to Rythni Friend Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha,Hamamatsu-shi, Sapeur, a joint-stock company of Japan Fiied .lune 15,1964, Ser. No. 375,010 Claims priority, application Japan, June 20,1963, 38/ 32,335 S Claims. (Cl. 112-158) This invention relates tosewing machines, particularly those of the type adapted to accomplishso-called zig-zag sewing. Still more specifically, the inventionconcerns a new device for free selection yof zig-zag pattern discs ofsewing machines having highly desirable features.

It is a general object of the invention to increase substantially theeffective performance and versatility of zigzag sewing machines.

It is a specific object to provide a device for the free selection ofzig-zag pattern discs of sewing machines, whereby, by the meremanipulation of key buttons on a keyboard, one or more patterns ofautomatic zig-zag sewing from a large number of such patterns can beinstantly selected.

It is another object to provide a device of the above stated characterwhich has relatively simple construction and operation accompanied bylittle wear and mechanical trouble,

It is a further object to providen a device of the above statedcharacter in which switching between automatic sewing and manual sewingcan be accomplished in a simple manner without the need for specialaccessory devices.

With the foregoing objects and other objects in View, the inventionresides in the arrangement and construction of parts wherein a largenumber of cam followers are disposed to confront a group ofcorresponding zigzag cams in a laminar arrangement installed in abuilt-in manner in a sewing machine, and each cam follower isindependently linked to a key button on a keyboard so as to beselectively actuated thereby and placed in the operative state for itsfunction as a cam follower whereby, by selectively pressing one or aplurality of the key buttons, a large variety for patterns of automaticsewing can be achieved.

More specifically, the pivotal points of the large number of camfollowers which confront and can be caused to contact respective zig-zagcams and, moreover, can be caused to contact the transmitting bar of anamplitude generating mechanism are suspended in an independent andlaminar state on respective follower actuating arms in a laminararrangement. On one hand there are provided a large number of keybuttons on a keyboard and their respective actuating bars and the samenumber of parallel arranged, actuated bars adapted to be pressed andengaged by said actuating bars through actuating cam faces and actuatedlugs, said actuated bars being aligned in parallel perpendicularly tosaid actuating bars and being adapted to undergo interrelated motion andspring-actuated return motion. Each actuating bar is pressed forwardly(toward the operator) and upwardly by a compression spring. Eachactuated bar is slidably coupled to its corresponding follower actuatingarm, and the engaging and disengaging of each actuating bar providedwith an engagement part is accomplished selectively.

The specific nature, principle, and details of the invention will bemore clearly apparent by reference to the following description withrespect to a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunctionwith the ited States Patent O 3,332,380 Patented July 25, 19767 ICCaccompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by likereference characters, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in verticalsection showing the arm of a sewing machine in which the free selectiondevice according to the invention is installed;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the line II-II in FIGURE 1, and includes`the essential parts of the device shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line III-III in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a View taken along the line IV-IV in FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, showing the generalconstruction of the essential parts of the -mechanism according to theinvention.

Throughout this disclosure, the terms such as front, rear, left, right,up, down, and related terms indi-cate directions as viewed from theposition of the operator of the sewing machine, with the front of themachine being that side thereof facing the operator.

Referring to the drawings, the rotation of a main drive shaft 2supported horizontally on bearings in larm 1 of a sewing machine istransmitted through a gear 3 and a gear t meshed perpendicularlytherewith to cause rotation of a triangular cam 5, which in turn causesan oscillating yoke 6 to oscillate and cause, through an amplituderegulator 7,- a needle bar to oscillate, whereby zig-zag sewing isaccomplished.

A frame-shaped, phase arm frame 8 is pivotally su-pported relative tothe arm 1 by a pivot shaft 9. This frame 8 has a rear arm 10 on the endof which the amplitude regulator 7 is pivoted, and a front arm 11, onwhich an amplitude actuated arm 12 is rotatably pivoted by a pivot means13. An upper arm 14 of the regulator 7 and the end of the amplitudeactuated arm 12 are coupled at 16 and 17, respectively, by an amplitudetransmitting bar 15, and a side arm 18 of the regulator 7 and the end ofa zig-zag coupling arm 19 pivotally supported on the pivot shaft 9 4areindirectly coupled by a zig-gaz regulating link 20, whereby a parallelfour-bar linkage is formed by the four members consisting of the link20, the phase arm frame 8, the zig-zag coupling arm 19, and the side arm18 of the regulator 7.

The phase arm frame 8 has a downwardly directed arm 21 to which there isfixed a phase arm bar 22. The extreme end of this bar 22 is pressedagainst a needle baseline cam 23. The zig-zag regulating link 20 and thezig-Zag coupling arm 19 are connected by a connecting pin 24 which isengaged by the tines of a zig-zag arm yoke 25. The base part of the yoke25 is supported pivotally on a pivot shaft 26 supporting the triangularcam 5. The right-hand tine 27 of the yoke 25 is extended and is engagedwith a pin on a zig-zag manual control arm 28 fixed to the pivot shaft9.

A worm 29 fixed to the main shaft 2 meshes with a worm wheel 30, and thespeed reduction gear ratio is suitably selected. A group of the requirednumber of zigzag cams 311,y 312, 31n are fitted in laminar arrangementon both sides of the worm wheel 30 on a cam shaft 32, being fixedthereto by a key 33, and thereby being rotated at reduced speed by powertransmitted through the worm wheel 30. The cam shaft 32 is supportedrotatably on the structural part of the machine arm 1.

The `group of zig-zag cams 31 are confronted by a corresponding numberof cam followers 341, 342 34n having transmitting arms 351, 352 35nwhich extend downwardly in parallel alignment, and contact theaforementioned amplitude transmitting bar 15. The transmitting arms 35are acted -upon by the forces of respective 3 springs 361, 362, 3611,whereby stops 371, 372, 37n formed on the arms 35 are placed in contactunder spring force with the respective follower actuating arms 381, 382,3811 to be described hereinafter.

The cam followers 34 have respective pivots 391, 392, 39n which arepivoted in suspended states on the respective follower actuating arms38. The arms 38 respectively have upwardly directed crank arms 41 to theends of which pins 421, 422, 4211 are fixed. These pins 42 are engagedwith the forked parts of respective key actuated bars 43 to be describedhereinafter. The group of actuating arms 38 are fitted in parallelside-by-side arrangement on a pivot shaft 44 fixed to a structural partof the machine arm 1 and are adapted to be independently rotatable aboutsaid shaft 44.

n one hand, at the upper part of the machine arm l, there is fixedthereto a keyboard support frame 45 provided on its left and right wallswith slide slots 46 and 47 in which the left and right ends of the keyactuated Abars 431, 432, 43,1 are supported in. parallel side-bysidearrangement in a manner such that they are free to shift left and right.The actuated bars 43 are provided respectively on their lupper partswith driven lugs 481, 482' 48n which are disposed in mutually staggeredpositions lying substantially on a diagonal line of the keyboard supportframe 45 as viewed in plan. The actuated bars 43 are further providedrespectively on their lower parts with T-shaped forks 491, 492, 49,1,the tines of which are engaged with respective pins 42 of theaforementioned crank arms 41, and on their left-hand ends with tensionsprings 501, 502, 50 which constantly impart leftward forces to theirrespective actuated bars 43.

The keyboard support frame 45 is provide on its front face with ahorizontal row of key buttons 511, 512, 51n having front-to-rearoperational directions and provided respectively with actuating `bars521, 522, 52n fixed thereto. These actuating bars 52 are providedrespectively on their upper forward surfaces with latch projections 531,532, 53n and on their lower forward surfaces with spring anchoringprojections 541, 542, 5411. As viewed in plan, these actuating bars 52are further provided respectively at their right-hand edges withcut-out, actuating cam faces 551, 552, 55'n which are at mutuallystaggered positions lying on a diagonal line of the keyboard supportframe 45, and which are in pressure contact with the aforementioneddriven lugs 481, 482, 48n of the actuated bars 43.

Key springs 571, 572, 57n in compressed state are provided respectivelybetween the spring anchoring projections 54 of the actuating bars 52 andfront wall projections 56 of the keyboard support frame 45. These keysprings 57 are so inclined that they exert an upward and forward forceon their respective actuating =bars 52. The front part of each actuatingbar '2 passes through a slide hole 58 in the front wall of the frame 45,and the slide hole 58 has a height which is amply greater than thethickness of the actuating bar 52. The rear part of each actuating bar52 passes through a slide slot 59 in the rear wall of the frame 45, withthe slide slot 59 having dimensions substantially equal to those of thecross section of the bar 52. Each key lbutton projects outwardly towardthe front through an amply loose-tit opening 61 provided in the frontwall of a top cover 60 constituting the upper cover of the machine arm1.

A spring 62 is provided to impart always a clockwise torque (as viewedin FIGURE l) to the aforementioned zig-Zag arm yoke 25, therebyelastically urging, by way of the zig-zag regulating link 20, theamplitude regulator toward the zero amplitude direction. Another spring63 is secured at one end thereof to the aforementioned arm 21 to causethe phase arm bar to press against the needle baseline cam 23, therebyto cause the amplitude regulator 7 to operate at the required needlebaseline position.

The device for selection of the built-in zig-Zag cams according to thepresent invention of the above described 4 construction will be morefully understood from the following description of its operation withrespect to the interrelated operation of the essential elements of onetrain of mechanism for zig-zag cam selection.

When a selected key button 51 is pressed in rearwardly against the forceof its key spring 57, the latch projection 53 of its actuating bar 52reaches the slide hole 58, and, undergoing a dipping motion, enters andpasses through the hole 58, whereupon the latch projection 53 is forcedupward-ly 'by the key spring 547 and is caught at the front wall of thekeyboard support frame 45.

In accordance with the above described advance movement of the actuatingbar 52, its actuating cam face 55, against which the driven lug 48 ofthe corresponding key actuated bar 43 is pressed, forces this lug 48 toshift to the right through the designed distance and then stop.Accordingly, the key actuated bar 43 is caused to shift to the right.

The resulting rightward movement of the forked part 49 of the actuatedbar 43 is transmitted, by way of the pin 42 in sliding engagementtherewith, to the upwardly directed arm 41 of the follower actuatingcrank arm 38, whereby these arms 41 and 38 are caused to rotateclockwise about the pivot shaft 44 through the designed rotationalangle. Consequently, the cam follower pivot 39 supported on the end ofthe actuating arm 3S also rotates clockwise and descends to the designedposition, whereupon the cam follower 34 pivotally suspended from thispivot 39 is set in its position for contact with its corresponding cam31, and, at the same time, the transmitting arm 35 of the follower alsodescends as it slidingly contacts the aforementioned amplitudetransmitting bar 15.

Then, as the zig-zag cam 31 rotates, the cam follower 34 follows thelift curve of the cam 31 and accordingly undergoes an oscillatory motionabout the pivot 39. Consequently, the transmitting arm 35 oscillateswith the force of the spring 36 acting thereon, and the amplitudetransmitting bar 15 oscillates about the pivot 13 of the amplitudeactuated arm 12. This operation, in conjunction with the cooperativeoperation of the link mechanism comprising the zig-zag arm yoke 25, thereturn spring 62, the zig-zag regulating link 20, the zig-zag couplingarm 19, the phase arm frame 8, and other parts, results in theoscillation of the amplitude regulator 7 and an automatic ornamentalstitching in accordance with the pattern of the selected zig-zag cam 31.

Then, in order to disengage the automatic ornamental stitchingoperation, the key button 51 is tapped downwardly, whereupon the latchprojection 53 of the actuating bar 52 is disengaged from the frame 45and, passing through the slide hole 58 is thrust outwardly by theelastic force of the key spring 57. Then the actuating cam face 55 ofthe actuating bar 52 is thereby shifted forwardly, and the driven lug 48follows this cam face and returns to the bottom end of .this cam face asthe actuated bar 43 is shifted to the left to its original position bythe tension force of the spring 50.

This movement is transmitted by way of the fork 49, sliding pin 42, andarm 41 to cause the follower actuating arm 38 to rotatecounter-clockwise about the pivotal shaft 44 and return. Consequently,the follower pivot 39 is lifted, and the follower 34 separates from thezig-Zag cam 31 to a position outside of the path of the maximum camlift. At the same time the follower transmitting arm 35 returnsupwardly, still in contact with the amplitude transmitting bar 15. Thefollower 34 is thereby prevented from contacting the zig-zag cam 31,and, moreover, the follower transmitting arm 35 returns and is so heldthat, with its stop 37 pressed against the actuating arm 38, it is in astate corresponding to the position of zero amplitude of thetransmitting bar 15. The device is thus switched to its state for manualzig-zag sewing operation.

By the use of the device of the present invention, it is possible notonly to manipulate a single key button 51 but also to manipulatesimultaneously a plurality of key buttons to cause a plurality ofcorresponding cam lfollowers to press against their respective zig-zagcams. That is, as is apparent from the description presentedhereinbefore, since each mechanism train of interrelated elements fromthe key button 51 to the cam follower 34 is independently arranged andconstructed, there is no mutual interference at the time of operation.Accordingly, by selectively pressing a plurality of key butons at thesame time, their respective mechanism trains can be caused to assumetheir operative states, whereby the amplitude transmitting baroscillates in accordance with a new cam curve which is a composite curveof the curves of the plurality of zig-zag cams. As a result, automaticsewing of a composite ornamental pattern is made possible.

As described above, the present invention provides a zig-zag camselection device with several advantages. One advantage is that by themere manipulation of one or more key buttons, an automatic ornamentalstitching of an infinite variety becomes instantly possible. Anotheradvantage is that since only the selected cam followers are caused tofollow their cam surfaces, the operation is smooth with a low rate ofwear and possibility of mechanical trouble or failure. A furtheradvantage is that in the switching from the automatic ornamentalstitching operation to the manual ornamental stitching operation, aspecial accessory device as heretofore used is not necessary, with thedisengaged state `of the automatic operation instantly being the manualoperation state. Accordingly, the efficiency of the zig-zag operationalprocedure is greatly increased. Thus, the present invention contributessubstantially to increasing the effectiveness and value of zig-zagsewing machines.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosurerelates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it isintended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of theinvention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do notconstitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A free selection device for zig-zag pattern cams of a Zig-zag sewingmachine, which comprises a group of zig-zag pattern cams in whichrespective seam patterns are memorized; cam followers which follow themovements of said zig-zag cams; a cam follower rocking mechanism forrocking said cam followers so as to effectuate the yfollowing movementsof said cam followers; an amplitude generating mechanism yadapted .toautomatically generate amplitudes corresponding to said seam patterns; achangeover device adapted to change over the cam followers from theiridle state to their actuating states or vice versa; a key mechanismcomprising a key board supporting frame, a plurality of keys which areadapted to select said cam followers, key actuated bars, and keyactuating bars the number of which is equal to those of the cams and camfollowers, key buttons provided on said actuating bars adapted to rocksaid cam followers to either one of actuating or nonactuating positionsand a key latching and releasing device including independent means foreach key adapted to set the keys at their actuating positions and atrestored positions without providing any restoration actuating bars andbuttons.

2. The free selection device for zig-zag pattern cams of a zig-zagsewing machine, according to claim i1, in which the cams of said groupof Zig-Zag pattern cams are supported by a shaft pivotally supported byan arm body of the machine so as to be rotated at a reduced speed, thefollowers of said `group of cam followers are disposed in layerarrangement so as to confront said zig-Zag cams, said amplitudegenerating mechanism is provided with an amplitude transmitting bar,each of said cam followers being, at its one end, extended downward fromits pivotal point and forming a transmitting arm disposed in parallel toand in confrontation with said amplitude transmitting bar, and the otherend of each of said cam followers being in confrontation with acorresponding zig-zag cam so that said other end follows, by an elasticforce, said cam in response to llift variation of said cam, whereby saidamplitude transmitting bar is rocked by said transmitting arms of thecam followers, thus generating automatically the seam patterns memorizedin said zig-za-g cams.

3. A free selection device for zig-zag pattern cams of a zig-Zag sewingmachine, in which a group of Zig-zag pattern cams are supported by ashaft pivotally supported by an arm body of the machine so as to berotated at a reduced speed, a group of cam followers disposed in layerarrangement so as to confront said zig-zag cams, a keyboard supportingframe, a plurality of keys adapted to select said cam followers, keyactuated bars, key actuating bars the number of which is equal to thoseof said cams and cam followers, key buttons provided on said actuatingbars said cam followers being provided with actuating arms pivoted tothe arm body of the machine in a layer arrangement, one end of each ofsaid actuating arms supporting suspendedly the pivotal point of arespective cam follower, and the other end of said actuating arm beingformed as a crank arm having a pin projected therefrom, said pin beingengaged with the key actuated bar, and each of said actuating arms beingadapted to rotate independently so that it is stopped at either anactuating position or a nonactuating position in response to theoperation of its corresponding key actuated bar, wherelby said camfollowers also are respectively transferred to and stopped at either anactuating or a nonactuating position, and an elastic force means forcausing each of said cam follower to follow the corresponding zig-zagcam in the actuating position of said cam follower and to detachentirely from the maximum lift path of the zig-Zag pattern cam in thecase of the nonactuating position of said cam follower.

4. A free selection device for zig-Zag pattern cams of a zig-zag sewingmachine in which a group of zig-zag pattern cams are supported by ashaft pivotally supported by an arm body of the machine so as to berotated at a reduced speed and a'group of cam followers disposed inlayer arrangement so as to confront said zig-Zag cams, a keyboardsupporting frame, a plurality of keys adapted to select said camfollowers, key actuated bars, key actuating bars the number of which isequal to those of said cams and cam followers, key buttons provided onsaid actuating bars, the key actuated `bars being supported by and inparallel to said keyboard supporting frame attached to the arm of themachine so that said key actuated bars are shiftable leftward andrightward, said key actuating bars being respectively provided withlugs, the num-ber of said key actuated bars being equal to that of theactuating arms of the said cam followers, said lugs being arranged onthe diagonal line of said keyboard supporting frame so that they aretransferred in response to displacement of the keys when said keys areoperated, and each of said key actuated bars having a forked portionengaging with a corresponding pin provided on said cam followeractuating arm, whereby said key actuated bars move in response to thekey operation and said actuating arms are moved to and stopped at one oftwo positions, namely, an actuating position and a nonactuatingposition.

S. A free selection device for zig-Zag pattern cams of a zig-zag sewingmachine comprising a group of zig-zag pattern cams in which respectiveseam patterns are memorized; cam followers following the movements ofsaid cams; a cam follower rocking mechanism for rocking said camfollowers so as to effectuate the following movements of said camfollowers; an amplitude generating mechanism to automatically generateamplitudes corresponding to said seam patterns; a change-over deviceadapted to change over the cam lfollowers from their idle state to theiractuating state and vice versa; a key mechanism comprising a keyboardsupporting frame, a plurality of assises@ keys adapted to select saidcam followers, key actuated bars, and key actuating bars, said members-being adapted to rock said cam followers to either an actuating or anonactuating position and a key latching and releasing device adapted toset the keys at their actuating positions and at restored positions,said zig-zag pattern cams being supported by a shaft pivotally supportedby an arm body of the machine so as to be rotated at a reduced speed agroup of cam followers disposed in a layer arrangement so as to confrontsaid zig-zag cams to follow the movements of said cams, said keyboardsupporting frame being attached to the arm body of the machine, the keyactuating `bars being supported by said keyboard supporting frame so asto be respectively actuated by said keys, each of said key actuatingbars being provided at its upper surface with an engaging lug and at itslower surface with a spring engaging lug, a compression spring 4beingprovided in an inclined orientation between said spring engaging lug anda front lug of said keyboard supporting frame so that said key actuatingbars are always elastically energized toward the front and upperdirections, said keyboard supporting frame being provided at its frontwall with slide holes through which the key actuating bars arerespectively passed so as to be movable in a vertical direction andfrontward and backward directions and at its rear wall with slide slotsthrough which the key actuating bars are respectively passed so as toIbe movable in only frontward and backward directions, said engaginglugs of the key actuated bars being respectively made to penetratethrough said slide holes by pushing the keys and being latched with saidslide holes by the upward and rearward elastic force of said compressionspring upon the completion of said penetration, and said engaging lugsbeing, respectively made to detach and protrude from said slide holes bydepression of the keys, whereby recesses provided on the rear parts ofthe inclined cams of the actuating bars are respectively engaged withsaid lugs of the key actuated bars, thus stopping said key actuatingbars.

6. In a sewing machine of the type adapted to accomplish zig-zag sewing,a device for the free selection of zigzag pattern discs comprising: aplurality of zig-zag pattern disc cams arranged in a laminar dispositionon a shaft and driven at reduced speed by power from the main driveshaft of the sewing machine; a plurality of cam followers eachcorresponding to and confronting one of the cams and operatingindependently of the other cam followers, means mounting each camfollower fore-movement between an operative position of full engagementwith its corresponding cam and an inoperative position of completedisengagement therefrom; movement regulating and generating means togenerate zig-zag amplitude for the needle bar of the sewing machine inresponse to control motions transmitted by one or more cam followers insaid operative position in accordance with the pattern of thecorresponding cam or cams; control means consisting of a plurality ofactuating mechanism trains, means for operating each train independentlyof the other to shift one of said cam followers between said operativeposition and inoperative position, and means for operating a pluralityof said actuating mechanism trains at the same time.

7. A free selection device for zig-zag pattern cams of a zig-zag sewingmachine, which comprises: a group of zig-zag pattern cams supported by ashaft which is pivotally supported by the arm body of the machine so asto be rotated at a reduce/d speed; a group of cam followers which aredisposed in layer arrangement so as to confront said zig-zag cams; anamplitude generating mechanism provided with an amplitude transmittingbar, each of said followers being at its one end extended downward fromits pivotal point and forming a transmitting arm, all said transmittingarms lying in parallel planes and confronting the said amplitudetransmitting bar, and the other end of each of said cam followers beingmade to confront a respective zig-zag cam so that said other end iscaused by an elastic force to follow the said cam in response to liftvariation of the said cam, whereby the said amplitude transmitting baris oscillated by said transmitting arms of said cam followers, thusgenerating automatically the seam patterns memorized in said zig-zagcams; key actuated bars which are the main actuating members of the mainbody of the selection apparatus and are supported in parallelarrangement by a keyboard supporting frame so as to be shiftableleftward and rightward, said frame being attached to the arm body of themachine, and said key actuated bars being respectively provided withlugs which are arranged on the diagonal line of the said keyboardsupporting frame so that they are moved in response to displacement ofthe keys, each of said key actuated 'bars having a forked portion; camfollower actuating arms which are pivotally supported in layerarrangement by the arm body of the machine, each `of said actuating armssupporting suspendedly, at its one end, the pivotal point of arespective cam follower and being provided at its other end with anupwardly directed arm having a pin which is engaged with said forkedportion of the respective key actuated bar, the number of said camfollower actuating arms being equal to that of said key actuated bars,and each of said cam follower actuating arms being adapted to be able torotate independently so that it is rotated to and stopped at either anactuating or a nonactuating position in response to operation of therespective key actuated bar, whereby said cam followers also arerespectively moved to and stopped at either an actuating or anonactuating position, and each of said cam followers eing caused by anelastic force to follow its respective zigzag cam in the case of saidactuating .position to detach entirely from the maximum lift path of thezig-zag cam group in the case of said nonactuating position of said camfollower; keys the number of which are equal to that of said keyactuated bars, said keys being arranged horizontally and perpendicularlywith respect to the said key actuated bars; key actuating bars which areaffixed respectively to said keys so that they are moved frontward andbackward together with respective keys, each of said key actuating barsbeing provided with an inclined cam part which is pressed against a lugof said key actuated bar, said lug `being arranged on the diagonal lineof said key supporting frame, and each of said key actuated bars beingdisplaced toward the direction perpendicular to the moving direction ofsaid actuating bar by a distance corresponding to the cam lift of therespective said inclined cam part in response to the movement of saidkey actuating bar, whereby said key actuated bars are stopped at eitheran actuating or a nonactuating position; and a key latching andreleasing mechanism comprising an engaging lug and a spring engaging lugwhich are respectively provided on upper surface and lower surface ofeach of said key actuating bars, a compression spring which is providedwith inclined `orientation between said spring engaging lug and a lug ofthe front wall of said keyboard supporting frame so that said keyactuating bars are always elastically energized toward the front andupper directions, slide holes provided on the front wall of saidkeyboard supporting frame and through which the key actuating bars arerespectively passed so as to be movable in the vertical, frontward, andbackward directions, and slide slots provided on the rear wall of saidkeyboard supporting frame and through which the key actuating bars arerespectively passed so as to be movable in only the frontward andbackward directions, each of said engaging lugs of said key actuatingbars being made to pass through one of said slide holes by pushing thecorresponding key and being latched with said slide hole by the upwardand forward elastic force of said compression spring upon the completionof the key pushing stroke, and said engaging lugs being respectivelymade to detach and protrude from said slide holes by depression of thekeys, whereby the recess provided on the rear part of the inclined campart of trah. Of Said key actuating bars is latched with the lug of saidkey actuated bar, thus stopping said key actuating bar.

8, A free selection device for zig-zag pattern cams of a zig-zag sewingmachine, comprising a group of zig-zag pattern cams memorized withrespective seam patterns supported by a shaft pivotally supported by anarm body of the machine so as to be rotated at a reduced speed; a groupof cam followers disposed in a layer arrangement so as to confront saidzig-zag cams to follow the movements of said zig-zag cams, said camfollowers being provided with respective actuating arms; an amplitudegenerating mechanism to automatically generate amplitudes correspondingto said seam patterns; a changeover device to change over the camfollowers from their idle state to their actuating state or vice versa;a keyboard supporting frame attached to the arm of the machine; keyactuated bars supported by and in parallel to the keyboard supportingframe arranged horizontally in the front and back directions of the keysupporting frame so that said key actuated bars are shiftable leftwardand rightward, said key actuated bars being respectively provided withlugs and the number of said key actuated bars being equal to that of theactuating arms of the said cam followers; keys, the number of which isequal t that of said key actuated bars; key actuating bars aixedrespectively to said keys so as to be moved frontward and backward inthe state of crossing perpendcularly said key actuated bars; saidactuating bars being respectively provided with inclined cam partsrespectively pressed against the lugs of said key actuated bars, saidlugs being arranged in the diagonal direction of said keyboardsupporting frame, each of said key actuated'bars being displaced `by adistance corresponding to the cam displacement of the respectiveinclined cam part in response to movement of said key actuating bar soas to move toward a direction perpendicular to the moving direction ofsaid actuating bar, and said movement being caused by pushing said keywhereby said key actuated bars are stopped at either an actuating or anon-actuating position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,331,099 2/*1920- Francis112--158 3,085,526 4/1963 Kawaguchi 112-158 3,111,099 11/196-3 Nishigami112-158 3,217,677 11/1965 Eguchi 112-158 FOREIGN PATENTS 329,688 5/ 1958Switzerland.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A FREE SELECTION DEVICE FOR ZIG-ZAG PATTERN CAMS OF A ZIG-ZAG SEWINGMACHINE, WHICH COMPRISES A GROUP OF ZIG-ZAG PATTERN CAMS IN WHICHRESPECTIVE SEAM PATTERNS ARE MEMORIZED; CAM FOLLOWERS WHICH FOLLOW THEMOVEMENTS OF SAID ZIG-ZAG CAMS; A CAM FOLLOWER ROCKING MECHANISM FORROCKING SAID CAM FOLLOWERS SO AS TO EFFECTUATE THE FOLLOWING MOVEMENTSOF SAID CAM FOLLOWERS; AN AMPLITUDE GENERATING MECHANISM ADAPTED TOAUTOMATICALLY GENERATE AMPLITUDES CORRESPONDING TO SAID SEAM PATTERNS; ACHANGEOVER DEVICE ADAPTED TO CHANGE OVER THE CAM FOLLOWERS FROM THEIRIDLE STATE TO ACTUATING STATES OR VICE VERSA; A KEY MECHANISM COMPRISINGA KEY BOARD SUPPORTING FRAME, A PLURALITY OF KEYS WHICH ARE ADAPTED TOSELECT SAID CAM FOLLOWERS, KEY ACTUATED BARS, AND KEY ACTUATING BARS THENUMBER OF WHICH IS EQUAL TO THOSE OF THE CAMS AND CAM FOLLOWERS, KEYBUTTONS PROVIDED ON SAID ACTUATING BARS ADAPTED TO ROCK SAID CAMFOLLOWERS TO EITHER ONE OF ACTUATING OR NONACTUATING POSITIONS AND A KEYLATCHING AND RELEASING DEVICE INCLUDING INDEPENDENT MEANS FOR EACH KEYADAPTED TO SET THE KEYS AT THEIR ACTUATING POSITIONS AND AT RESTOREDPOSITIONS WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY RESTORATION ACTUATING BARS AND BUTTONS.